Watch movement holder ring



Filed April 30, 1956 INVENTOR. HYMAN DINSTMAN WATtIl-I MOVEMENT HOLDER RING Hyman Dinstman, New York, N. Y.

Application April 36, 1956, Serial No. 581,695

9 Claims. (Ci. SEE-88) The present invention relates to holding rings for watch movements, and more particularly has reference to a ring adapted to snap about the movement in such a manner as to engage the movement in its associated case in a relationship of the several components of the Watch such as will result in a tight and shock absorbent mounting for the movement.

Heretofore, various types of shock absorbent mountings for watch movements have been devised, but certain deficiencies have been noted in connection with the prior art constructions.

For example, in many instances the holding means is relatively expensive and complicated, so as to render inappropriate their use in the highly competitive watch making industry.

In other instances, the engagement of the holding ring about the watch movement, and the mounting of the ring or holder means within the watchcase, has involved relatively expensive and time-consuming assembly methods, again producing the factor of excessive cost in the making of the watch.

The main object of the present invention, in view of the above, is to provide a holder ring for watch movements, so designed as to permit to be manufactured from a single stamping of springable material, with the one-piece ring so formed being adapted to be swiftly snapped about a watch movement to resiliently cushion the movement in a centered position within the watchcase.

Yet another object of importance is to provide a holder ring for watch movements so designed that after the ring has been assembled with the movement, the ring and the movement can be swiftly inserted in the watchcase and will be securely engaged in the proper position therein responsive to threading of the back plate onto the body of the case.

Summarized briefly, the present invention comprises a sheet metal stamping, in annular form, said stamping having inwardly struck, arcuate springs formed out of the material of the body of the stamping, said springs being projected inwardy of the circumference of said stamping in a series angularly spaced about said circumference, so that said springs may engage the wall of a watch movement centered in the ring. On the bottom edge of the ring, an inwardly directed, angularly shaped lip is provided, adapted to provide a seat for the back of the movement, and said angularly shaped lip is in turn adapted to provide a shoulder engageable by the flange on the periphery of the watch back, so that the ring and movement will be forced into proper position within the case responsive to threading of the back plate onto the body of the case. When the ring and movement are engaged in the case in this manner, the periphery of the dial of the movement engages the flange provided on the watch crystal, so that all parts are held in assembled relation responsive merely to threading of the back plate onto the case body.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had 2,799,134 Patented July 16, .1957

to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a view of a watch partly in elevation and partly in section showing the holder ring constituting the present invention assembled with a watchcase and movement.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the ring per se, a portion of the ring being shown in section.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 3--3 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the reference numeral 10 generally designates the holder ring constituting the present invention, shown in Fig. l in assembled relation with a watchcase 12 including a back plate 14. The movement of the watch has been generally designated at 16, and overlying said movement is a conventional watch crystal 18.

All parts with the exception of the holder ring are per se conventional, and the illustrated shapes of the con ventional parts are representative of modern designs of shock-proof watches.

The holder ring it} constituting the present invention is stamped or otherwise formed out of a single piece of sheet metal material, and includes a cylindrically shaped body til formed integrally on one edge thereof with a continuous, circumferential, inwardly directed flange 42 inclining downwardly to a slight degree in a direction away from the body as best shown in Fig. 1. Flange i2, at its inner periphery, merges into a depending flange portion 44 which in turn merges at its lower edge into an inwardly directed lip 46 of narrow width. Flange portion 44 and lip 46 cooperate to define a seat 4-7 on which the watch movement is supported in the assembled relationship of the parts as shown in Fig. l.

Struck inwardly out of the material of the body 48, intermediate the top and bottom edges thereof, are elongate-d spring members 48, having their lengths extending through arcuate paths concentric with the body 40, the spring members being spaced inwardly a substantial distance from the body as as shown in Fig. 2. The spring members 48, at their opposite ends, have short connecting portions 49 diverging in a direction away from the spring members and merging into the material of the body 40.

By reason of this arrangement, the spring members are anchored at both ends, but nevertheless, due to the comparative resiliency thereof are adapted to be shifted radially, outwardly of the body under pressure of the watch movement, as a result of which the watch movement can be snapped into place within the holder ring, and will be gripped securely at locations angularly spaced about its circumference by the spring members d8.

At one location upon the circumference of the body, the holder ring is formed with a deep, wide recess it for receiving the winding stem of the watch movement. The recess 5i} opens upon the top edge of the body at), and in depth extends across the width of the flange 42 as shown to best advantage in Fig. 2.

in assembly of the several components of the watch, the watch movement is first snapped into the holder ring, in the position shown in Fig. 1. Then, with the crystal 32 inserted into engagement with the watchcase, the holder ring and the watch movement are positioned within the case.

In this connection, the watchcase includes a cylindrical body 20 of substantially greater diameter than the body 40, body 20 being formed at its top edge with an inwardly directed, frusto-conical bezel 24, engaging the outwardly directed peripheral flange 34 of the watch crystal body 32. The watch crystal is, of course, of any desired shape,

being of outwardly concave-convex shape in the illustrated embodiment.

The watchcase further includes, at the lower edge of the body 20 thereof, an inwardly directed, frusto-conical flange the inner periphery of which is formed with threads 22.

The back plate 14 of the watchcase includes a flat plate member 26, the periphery of which is provided at locations angularly spaced thereabout with downwardly facing indentations 28, adapted to receive the jaws of a spanner wrench or the like. The plate member 26 is integral at its outer periphery with an upwardly and outwardly directed lip threaded for engagement with the threads 22.

The watch movement includes the usual circular portion 36, having at its upper surface a dial 38 somewhat greater in diameter than the side wall of the portion 36.

Thus, with the back plate removed, one snaps the watch movement into the holder ring 10, after which, with the crystal in engagement at its periphery with the bezel 24, the movement and ring are inserted in the case. The marginal portion of the dial 38 will engage against the circumferential lip 34 of crystal 32, while the marginal part of the movement casing 36 seats in the circumferential, inwardly facing recesses defined by flange portion 44 and lip 46 of the holder ring. Then, the holder ring seats upon the marginal part of the back plate when the back plate is threaded into the body of the watchcase. It will be appreciated than when the back plate has been threaded into the watchcase body to the maximum extent, the dial 38 will cause the lip 34 of the crystal to bear tightly against the edge of the crystal-receiving opening of the watchcase, with the back plate exerting pressure against the lower part of the holder ring and the holder ring in turn causing said pressure to be transmitted to the watchcase.

As a result, a tight mounting of the movement is etfected, while at the same time full protection against heavy shocks that might be otherwise transmitted to the movement is alforded. The movement is, in effect, supported centrally in a resilient mount constituted by the annular series of elongated spring members 48 anchored at both ends. The anchoring of the spring members 48 at both ends, as at 49, has a desirable effect of reducing the deflection of the spring members to an extent such as to prevent undue movement of the works of the watch within the case.

The construction is further characterized by the ease with which the disassembly of the components can be eflected. One need merely remove the back plate, as a result of which the movement, holder ring, and crystal are free to drop out of the case. The movement can then be detached readily from the holder ring, by being snapped out of the same.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent l. A holder ring for watch movements comprising an annular body of springable material adapted to receive a watch movement, and a plurality of spring members spaced circumferentially of said body and projecting inwardly thereof for engaging said movement at locations correspondingly spaced circumferentially of the move ment, said spring members being struck inwardly out of the material of the body, and having their lengths extending circumferentially of the body, each of said spring members including an elongated body portion and relatively short end portions extending between the ends of the body portion and said body of the ring.

2. A holder ring for watch movements comprisingan annular body of springable material adapted to receive a watch movement, and a plurality of spring members spaced circumferentially of said body and projecting inwardly thereof for engaging said movement at locations correspondingly spaced circumferentially of the movement, said spring members being struck inwardly out of the material of the body, and having their lengths extending circumferentially of the body, each of said spring members including an elongated body portion and relatively short end portions extending between the ends of the body portion and said body of the ring, said end portions diverging in a direction from the body portion of each spring member to the adjacent portion of the holder ring body.

3. A holder ring for watch movements comprising an annular body of springable material adapted to receive a watch movement, and a plurality of spring members spaced circumferentially of said body and projecting inwardly thereof for engaging said movement at locations correspondingly spaced circumferentially of the movement, said spring members being struck inwardly out of the material of the body, and having their lengths extending circumferentially of the body, each of said spring members including an elongated body portion and relatively short end portions extending between the ends of the body portion and said body of the ring, said end portions diverging in a direction from the body portion of each spring member to the adjacent portion of the holder ring body, the body portions of the spring members extending in arcuate paths concentric with the annular body.

4. A holder ring for watch movements comprising an annular body of springable material adapted to receive a watch movement, and a plurality of spring members spaced circumferentially of said body and projecting inwardly thereof for engaging said movement at locations correspondingly spaced circumferentially of the movement, said spring members being struck inwardly out of the material of the body, and having their lengths extending circumferentially of the body, each of said spring members including an elongated body portion and relatively short end portions extending between the ends of the body portion and said body of the ring, said end portions diverging in a direction from the body portion of each spring member to the adjacent portion of the holder ring body, the body portions of the spring members extending in arcuate paths concentric with the annular body, said body having a flange directed inwardly thereof at the lower edge of the body, said flange extending through the full circumference of the body.-

5. A holder ring for watch movements comprising an annular body of springable material adapted to receive a watch movement, and a plurality of spring members spaced circumferentially of said body and projecting inwardly thereof for engaging said movement at locations correspondingly spaced circumferentially of the movement, said spring members being struck inwardly out of the material of the body, and having their lengths extending circumferentially of the body, each of said spring members including an elongated body portion and relatively short end portions extending between the ends of the body portion and said body of the ring, said end portions diverging in a direction from the body portion of each spring member to the adjacent portion of the holder ring body, the body portions of the spring members extending in arcuate paths concentric with the annular body, said body having a flange directed inwardly thereof at the lower edge of the body, said flange extending through the full circumference of the body, and including a depending flange portion terminating at its lower edge in an inwardly directed circumferential lip. said flange portion and lip providing an annular seat for the Watch movement within the holder ring.

6. The combination, with a watchcase including a body and a back plate threadedly engaged therewith to close the body at the back thereof, the body having an opening in its front for receiving a Watch crystal, of a holder ring for watch movements comprising an annular body of springable material adapted to receive a watch movement and a plurality of spring members spaced circumferen tially of said body and projecting outwardly thereof for engaging said movement at locations correspondingly spaced circumferentially of the movement, said body of the ring being proportioned for engagement against the marginal part of the back plate and seating on the back plate, for disposing the movement in position for engagement against the periphery of the crystal on threading of the back plate into the body of the case.

7. The combination, with a watchcase including a body and a back plate threadedly engaged therewith to close the body at the back thereof, the body having an opening in its front for receiving a watch crystal, of a holder ring for watch movements comprising an annular body of springable material adapted to receive a watch movement and a plurality of spring members spaced circumferentially of said body and projecting outwardly thereof for engaging said movement at locations correspondingly spaced circumferentially of the movement, said body of the ring being proportioned for engagement against the marginal part of the back plate and seating on the back plate, for disposing the movement in position for engagement against the periphery of the crystal on threading of the back plate into the body of the case, said spring members being struck out of the material of the body of the ring in a direction inwardly from the watchcase body, for centering the watch movement within the ring and watchcase body.

8. The combination, with a watchcase including a body and a back plate threadedly engaged therewith to close the body at the back thereof, the body having an opening in its front for receiving a watch crystal, of a holder ring for watch movements comprising an annular body of springable material adapted to receive a watch movement and a plurality of spring members spaced circumferentially of said body and projecting outwardly thereof for engaging said movement at locations correspondingly spaced circumferentially of the movement, said body of the ring being proportioned for engagement against the marginal part of the back plate and seating on 6 the back plate, for disposing the movement in position for engagement against the periphery of the crystal on threading of the back plate into the body of the case, said spring members being struck out of the material of the body of the ring in a direction inwardly from the watchcase body, for centering the watch movement within the ring and watchcase body, the bodies of the watchcase and ring being in concentric relation and said spring members each extending through part of the circumfet ence of the ring body in concentric relation to the bodies of the ring and watchcase;

9. The combination, with a watchcase including a body and a back plate threadedly engaged therewith to close the body at the back thereof, the body having an opening in its front for receiving a watch crystal, of a holder ring for watch movements comprising an annular body of springable material adapted to receive a watch movement and a plurality of spring members spaced circumferentially of said body and projecting outwardly thereof for engaging said movement at locations correspondingly spaced circumferentially of the movement, said body of the ring being proportioned for engagement against the marginal part of the back plate and seating on the back plate, for disposing the movement in position for engagement against the periphery of the crystal on threading of the back plate into the body of the case, said spring members being struck out of the material of the body of the ring in a direction inwardly from the watchcase body, for centering the watch movement within the ring and Watchcase body, the bodies of the watchcase and ring being in concentric relation and said spring members each extending through part of the circumference of the ring body in concentric relation to the bodies of the ring and watchcase, said watchcase body including a bezel concentric with the ring body and spring members, whereby on engagement of the holder ring in the watchcase the marginal portion of a supported watch movement may force the periphery of the crystal against the bezel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,603,353 Pixley Oct. 19, 1926 

